The impact of privatization on gender composition: evidence from Vietnam

Tóm tắt

Purpose

This study examines the impact of privatization on the gender composition of firms, an aspect that has received limited attention in the existing literature despite a substantial body of work on labor outcomes of privatization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a nationally representative panel of Vietnamese firms from 2006 to 2015, the study employs a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) estimation strategy to identify the causal effects of privatization on female employment share.

Findings

The results show that privatization led to an average decrease of 1.3 percentage points in the share of female employment in initially female-dominated firms. By role, female production workers experienced an average decline of about 11.5%, while the reduction among female non-production workers was substantially larger at 19.3%.

Originality/value

By incorporating pre-existing gender structures within firms, this study offers a practical approach to uncover the heterogeneous effects of privatization on gender composition. The findings emphasize the need for gender-sensitive policy interventions, such as reskilling programs or transitional support, to mitigate the adverse effects of privatization on female employment, particularly in peripheral roles that are more vulnerable to labor restructuring.